Expression of Survivin gene in human non-small-cell lung cancer: association with Caspase-3 and Bcl-2

Purpose: To investigate the expression of Survivin gene and its relationship with expression of Caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2( Bcl-2) in human non-small-cell lung carcinoma( NSCLC) . Methods: Expression of the Survivin mRNA was evaluated by in situ hybridization (ISH) in 13 normal bronchial epithelium, 11 dysplasia, 54 NSCLC and 12 lymph node metastasis. Immunohistochemical assay was used to detect the expression of Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 proteins. Results: Expression of Survivin was detected in a significantly greater proportion in NSCLC (74. 07%) and lymph node metastasis (91. 67%) than normal bronchial epithelium (7. 69%) and dysplasia ( 27. 27%) (P 0. 01). The up-regulation expression of Survivin was related to the TNM stages(P0. 01) and differentiation( P 0. 05) . Expression of Caspase-3 was negatively and Bcl-2 positively correlated with expression of Survivin (P 0. 01). Conclusions: Survivin gene may play an important role in the pathway of carcinogenesis and progression of NSCLC and it may be identified as a new therapeutic target. Inhibition of the Caspase-3's activation is the anti-apoptosis mechanism of Survivin. The up-regulation expression of Survivin predicts more invasion and poorer prognosis. Survivin and Bcl-2 might play synergetic roles in NSCLC.